Developed by the Danish Institute of Technology to do it yourself, the indoor bacteria and actinomycetes test is a reliable way to detect surface bacteria and their number indoors. This TSA (Tryptic Soy Agar) test complements the V8 home test because it identifies most of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on the surfaces. You can also use the test to control the level of cleaning.
Actinomycetes are soil bacteria that, like mold fungi, grow mycelium and spores. Actinomycetes are commonly found in soil and give soil a characteristic smell that smells like its earth cellar. As a rule, actinomycetes grow only in damp conditions and are considered a moisture damage indicator.
How to perform the surface test
- The test is taken from a dry and straight surface, for example, from a wall, floor or bathroom fixture.
by opening the lid of the sample dish and pressing the gel on the lid against the surface. Just one sample per bowl. - The results are displayed in colonies of different colours in a closed sample dish within 4-8 days.
- The sample may be submitted to the laboratory for microbial identification within two weeks of sampling.
